Blues give Stewart time to prove fitness

Injury cloud ... Glenn Stewart is helped from the field against the Storm

Getty Images: Mark Kolbe

New South Wales will give Glenn Stewart time to prove his fitness and Akuila Uate has been dropped for the State of Origin decider at Lang Park on July 4.

Stewart suffered a knee injury in Manly's clash with Melbourne at Brookvale Oval last Monday night and initial reports suggested he would not be available for Origin III.

He is still an unlikely starter but Blues selectors have picked an extended 19-man squad, allowing the back rower time to recover and be available to face the Maroons.

The Blues have also included Stewart's Sea Eagles team-mate Tony Williams, who has been sidelined since Origin I because of a back injury.

St George Illawarra back rower Beau Scott has been named as back row cover, as has his Dragons team-mate Brett Morris, who replaces Uate.

Blues coach Ricky Stuart says Stewart has earned the chance to prove he can take the field against the Maroons.

"He's still a little unsure," he said.

"He's still coming out of the brace and I just think in respect to Glenn he deserves every opportunity to make himself available and that's what I'll give him.

"He's been a huge part of it the last two series and that is the process that we will follow in regards to the respect the player deserves."

Stuart says he will not give Stewart a deadline to prove his fitness, preferring to adopt a day-by-day approach.

"I don't want to put a timeframe on it," he said.

"It's just a matter of being clear in regards to the real opportunity or the chances he has of playing.

"We'll come in and assess it and give him some time of the next two or three days and just actually monitor where he is at."

Stuart admits it was with a heavy heart that he axed Uate, who had been found out defensively and under the high ball during the opening two matches of the series.

"It was a very hard decision," he said.

"It was something that I had to mull over for a number of days and nights and a number of discussions with Bozo (fellow selector Bob Fulton) in are we making the right choice because he also over the last two series has been a huge part of it.

"But I just believe there is an opportunity there just to strengthen that edge defensively but it won't be too long and he will be back."

Williams made his return from injury for the Sea Eagles in their 52-14 thrashing of the Roosters at Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Stuart says the hulking utility has so far ticked all the boxes to ensure he will play a significant role for the Blues in their attempt to prevent the Maroons from clinching a seventh-straight Origin series win.

"[I'm] very impressed, he played 80 minutes [against the Roosters]," he said.

"I think his touches were the assists for the first two tries, so he's played himself into the squad there today."

The Maroons will name their squad on Tuesday.

They won the opening match of the series 18-10 in Melbourne last month before the Blues struck back to claim Origin II 16-12 in Sydney.